The Aspen Times<\/strong>I can just imagine the questions that began with grandparents during the year-end holidays.\u00a0 They\u2019re eager to learn what their grandchildren \u2014 those high -school seniors and juniors \u2014 plan to do with the rest of their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And, perhaps that prompts parents to ask similar questions as the new year begins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Are they asking which college or university do their young students plan to attend?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is that the right question?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, recent articles have revealed many younger folks completed expensive four-year college programs only to be disappointed.\u00a0They\u2019re disappointed with the failure of their degree to yield better benefits in return \u2014 a degree they worked so hard to earn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How often have we heard about young folks who earned a bachelor\u2019s degree only to choose unrelated work that they enjoy \u2014 such as a fishing and hunting guide?\u00a0Or carpentry?\u00a0Or as a golf or skiing instructor?<\/p>\n
And, haven\u2019t we learned that even though bachelor\u2019s and graduate degrees are required for many jobs in education, seldom do the salaries justify the thousands of dollars spent to get those degrees?\u00a0<\/p>\n
One article, in citing the most serious problems faced by younger workers, observed they are fiscally fragile \u2014 often because of the huge college debt they incurred.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It begins by reporting they are the \u201cbrainiest, best-educated generation,\u201d which has caused a supply-and-demand problem \u201cbecause the supply of educated workers is much higher than the demand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a result, more than one-third of people under age 25 are \u201ceither unemployed or underemployed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another article asks: \u201cIs college a scam?\u201d<\/p>\n
That article reports how the average annual costs of a college education has more than doubled during the last 20 years \u2026 \u201cand it won\u2019t be long until they are three times higher.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 2002, the average yearly cost ranged from nearly $4,000 at an in-state university to almost $18,000 at a private institution.\u00a0But, this last year, that range was more than $11,000 at an in-state college to more than $43,000 at a private university.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Add to that an additional $12,000 to $14,000 for room and board.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, the article noted college degrees yield much better benefits when students major in STEM subjects \u2014 science, technology, engineering, and math.\u00a0Graduates in those fields can expect salaries of $60,000-plus \u2014 up to six figures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, graduates in general and elementary education, the humanities, as well as liberal and fine arts are lucky to get jobs paying $45,000.<\/p>\n
Many of those graduates are among the 42.8 million young workers with higher-education debt.\u00a0 The average federal student loan debt is $37,787.\u00a0And, when private loan debt is added, the average tops $40,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Again, they are averages, indicating millions of young workers owe much more than the $40,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In another article, career experts identified the 12 \u201cmost useless\u201d college majors.\u00a0Those 12 are: theater arts, filmmaking, anthropology, civilization studies, philosophy, psychology, communications, English, history, interior design, marketing, and photography.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To be fair, I\u2019ve concluded we can\u2019t call college a scam unless<\/em> colleges are shamelessly recruiting students into those \u201cuseless\u201d majors.\u00a0<\/p>\nI believe an associate degree from a 2-year community college should be sufficient preparation to seek jobs in nearly all of those majors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The college-scam article adds that trade schools remain among the best alternatives.\u00a0It reports \u201celectricians and plumbers are especially in high demand\u201d with salaries between $50,000 and $60,000 \u2014 after training costs averaging $3,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another article reports the benefits of going to a trade school include a shorter time commitment, lower cost, fewer admission requirements, small class sizes, on-the-job experience, and placement assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Similar benefits also apply to the more modern tech \u201cboot camps\u201d \u2014 many of which run for only six to nine months, and cost less than $14,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Forbes<\/em> report noted a tech boot camp, costing about $13,000, can yield an average salary of $67,000 \u2014 well above what many college degrees can offer.<\/p>\nYes, college degrees are necessary in many fields that do pay higher salaries.\u00a0The median wage for a graduate is listed at $65,000 \u2014 compared to less than $40,000 for workers with only a high-school diploma.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, the many other choices available today can yield substantial wages without that huge four-year expense of $100,000 to $200,000 for tuition, materials, room, and board. \u00a0<\/p>\n
So, asking, \u201cWhich college or university do you plan to attend?\u201d may not be appropriate. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
And, I must disclose that I ended my business communications major about 14 credits short of a bachelor\u2019s degree.\u00a0That happened when the hometown newspaper offered me what was back then an excellent starting salary, plus scheduled raises during the next two years.\u00a0And, college was a whole lot cheaper then.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Also, three decades later, I earned more income driving 18-wheelers coast-to-coast than the salaries I received as managing editor at daily newspapers in Georgia and Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Darrell Berkheimer is a retired California journalist whose career spans nearly 60 years.\u00a0He filled editor positions with newspapers in Pennsylvania, Utah, Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico.\u00a0He also is the author of several essays books. Contact him at <\/em>mtmrnut@yahoo.com<\/a><\/svg><\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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